War crimes: Australian soldiers get notices

KABUL (Pajhwok): Several serving members of the Special Air Service Regiment, blamed in an inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, have been asked to show why they should not be sacked.

Last week, a four-year probe found credible evidence of 39 unlawful killings and two cases of torture by Australian troops during their mission in Afghanistan.

At least 10 members of the SAS’s second and third squadrons were subject to the administrative action, ABC reported on Thursday.

The Guardian, meanwhile, reported a series of “show cause” notices were issued to serving ADF personnel as part of an administrative punishment process.

The process may lead to anything from formal warnings to discharge. The notices were sent to 10 serving Special Air Service regiment soldiers.

The soldiers, who have been put on notice, have got two weeks to plead their cases. They, however, can apply for more time to respond.

Defence confirmed to the Guardian it had “initiated administrative action against a number of serving Australian defence force personnel in accordance with legislation and defence policy”.

Slamming the special forces’ alleged actions as disgraceful and a profound betrayal, the report found 39 Afghans were unlawfully killed in 23 incidents, either by special forces or at the instruction of special forces.

PAN Monitor/mud